Expression device for automatic musical instruments



Dec. 7 `1922.6.

T DANQUARD EXPRESSION DEVICE FOP` AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Original Filed Feb: 4. 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I YZ0/745 H/V004@ @g3/MJ* WMM f Dc., 7 g 3926.

T. DANQUAR EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL NSTRUMENTS Original Filed Feb.

4, 1915 f 5 Sheetsheei;

Suva/wrox EXPRESSION DEVICE FCR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS narran stares THOlsffiS EANQUARD,

COMPANY, OF Nll/T YGRK, N. Y.,

EXPRESSIQN EVICE EGB AUTOMATIC lnUSl'Cil OF NEVJ YORK, E. Y., ASSIGrNJ-E PATENT @FFIQEs AUTO INEUMATIC ACTION l?? HE?? YORK.

SGR-PCBA STRUMENTS.

This invention relates to an expression device for automatic musical instruments, of the tvpe in which a tracker bar and perforated note-sheet are nsed and is a division ot nrv renewal ar plif;"i :n. @SaS-@9U lilerl July 1t) lu/9,1. final application .Ml- V1 r1 e 76.044. lied ebriu 191iy and Patent No l 1l-13.832 issued i i lt ias been found desirable in the use and operation oi automatic musical instruments and particularly ot player pianos. to provide automate means by ivli'ch the intensit-3,'v ot tone'or musical expression of the in t mayv be varied. lhen such means are p ovided, it is found possible to reproduce,V the rendition oit a particular musical compo., tion. as played by a great artist, so accurately that the reproduced playing oi the composition can hardly7 be distinguished troni that of the original performer.

lt is the f eneral object ot' my invention to provide an improved tension regulator of this type, by Whic1 the air tension on the player actions in automatic musical instrument ma;7 be varied automatically, and also to provide improved means for con trolling' such a rennlator from special openin;`- in the note-sheet.

@ne important feature of myr invention relates to the provision oi improved devices ior re aining the tension regnlator in adjusted position.. thereb",T avoiding` the ose of long pertorations or slots in the notesheet. and to the provision o'i' means 'for autonniticaiiy releasing' said devices prior to r coincident with the adjastment of the tension regulator to a different position.

Further features ot inv invention relate to certain arrangements and combinations ot s which will be herein-after described and more particnlarl.)v pointed out in the appended claims.

ri, pr rrecl torni ot in iir'ention shovfn in the drawings in Which- 1 diagrammatic elevation of in v improved expression device and certain parte ot the instrument associated there- Q is a vertical sectional view ot the tension reojulator, taken along; the line 2-2 1n Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view ot the Vtension regulator, talen along the line l-e3 in Fig. 2;

fi is a plan viev7 ot' the setting device Which controls the tension regulator;

5 is longitudinal sectional elevation thereof., talen on the line 5-5 of F a; and l Figs, (i and 7 are transverse sectional elevations taken on the lines 6--G and 7-7 ot 1i, respectively.

In Fig. 1, hai/'e shown the general relative position of the several parts ot my nr y vention7 the tension regulator being designated as al Whole by the letter R, the settingdevice by the letter S and the tracker bar by the letter T.

The tension regulator shown in the drawings is of the general type shown vand fully described in my prior Patent No. 1,287,649 issued December 17. 1918. This combination regulator controls the air tension on va plurality ot pneaiatic player actions ov i miners ot a piano are a l aver which the lieve or l operated. These a l,

ot anyv isual type such as is shown tor instance in 2 and 3 ci the prior patent to Brown, if. 1,01i..567. issued December 12. 1911. 1n the torni shown in my prior patent, however9 no provision is made *for automatic setting; ot the tension regalator and the provision oi such automatic setting devices in an improved torna constitutes a ver?7 important feature of my present invention.

Referring to Fi.l s. 2 and f3, I have shown a bor: or casing 10. divided by a partition 11 into tivo air cl'iainbers 12 and'lel. The chamber 13 is directly connected by a pas 15 and pipe 15 to the exhaust oi the instrument, While the chamber 12 is pro-- vided with a passage 1% which forms an inlet for the pipe la@ leading;` from the pnenmatics waieh operate the actions ot the instruinent. The chambers and 13 are connected by a port lo extending; through the partition 11 and normalljlsT open as shown in Fin. 2. l

tension valve 1 partition l1 and is 7 pivoted at 18 to the adapted to be swung;

actions form no part ot inv present invention and may bek bar 2l which is rigidly secured to the inov Y e 1 Y able leaves oi toreo pi-ieuinatic boiler-.vs 22,

23 and 2l, mourned in listed wwlation to the casing l0 and collectively const-ituting what may be teijeed a pneumatic motor for selectively positioning the valve Il. The movable leaves ot tie three bellows and the crossbar 2l carried thereby are normally maintained in raiser position by a spring 25 mounted upon arms 26 and secured respectivelyT to the movable and to the fined leaves o; the bellows.

The low tension chamber l2 is connected by a passage 30 to a second low tension chamber 31 formed in a casing 32 secured to and rigidly connecting` the fined leaves oit the bellows 22, 23 and 2li. ma

In the side wall o2 of the casing 32, a series'ot valve chambers 33, 34 and 35 provichd, each of these chambers beine' directly connected to the interior of one ot the bellows 22, 23 ant A passage 33a connects the valve chamber 33 to the bellows 22 (Fig. 2) and similar passages7 not shown, connect the valve chambers 34 and 35 to the bellows 23 and 24 respectively.

The valve chamber 33 is provided with two ports 33b and 33C, the port 33b being open to the atmosphere and the portl 33C communicating with the low tension chainber 3l. The latter port is formed in a cuplilre member 36 secured to the 'frame inember 32a and )forming` the yinner side of the valve chamber. it double valve 37 is mounted to slide arially in said chainlier and to close one or the other of said ports, accordingto its position.

The valve 37 is provided with a head 33 positioned tor engagement with a diaphragm 39 forming' a so-called pouch and covering a. recess l0 formed in the wall 32b ot' the casing' A pipe or tube si leads from the recess el() and is connected at its opposite end with av setting4 device to be hereinafter described. For the nresentit is merely necessary to state that the setting` device comprises means for nornally closing the tube ll and for opening the saine to the atmosphere under predetermined corditions. p

A bleed opening4 432 connects the recess 4t() to the low Mtension cha` ber 3l, thus normally n'iaintaininn' equal low tension npon both sides of the diaphragm 39. ihe valve chambers 3% and 35 are provided with valves, pouches, and controlling' tubes me cisely similar in cons ruction and operation to those just described and a detailed deseription thereof is considered.unnecessary.

aero

The tube which controls the valve mount- -l I 'Lb a li vivi l gli. I ai 1l f1 l r1 "lr-l er.. in t le chan. ,ei or is mailer ai.L ie

f, il) corresponding` tuoe for the chainber 35 is l openings main equal sion upoi ooth sides the o :l is controlled tlerebjf, the

diaphra" ibeing thus rendered inactive. The low tlL in the chamber 3i normally draws he double valve v37 against the port 33C in the cap 3G, thus closing;l coin-- munication between the Yalve chamber 33 and the low tension chamber 3l. it the same time the nncovering` ot tie port 33b opens the valve chamber to the atmosphere. The valves in the chambers and 35 are similarly arranged and positioned. Each bellows 22, and 2l n'iospheric pressure within and without the ovable leaves will be raised by the spring 25.

issuininp; now that the setting; device opens the tube ll to the atmosphere, the diaphraom n.' in s c c nressnre upon its right-hand sioc and to low tension or exhaust pressure upon its le`lt-hand side, as viewed in Fig. 2. The diaphragm will consequently move inward, ngaging the head 33 or" the valve 37 and moving the valve to open the port 33 and to close the port 33".

The bellovf's 22 is thus connected through the passage 33a and the valve chamber to the low tension chamber 3l, causing della tion ot the bellows to a certain extent against the tension ot' the spring 25. The movaliile leaves ot the bellows and the cross-r bar 2l carried thereby will thus be mover. downward ar certain distance, thereby swinging' the valve l? to partially close the port l5 and de ase the tension in the chamber rllie tension thus obtained may be designated E, lull' tension being indicated by llll ll" the tube is thereafter opened, the bellows 3 will be connecter to the low tenA sion chamber 3l and the movable leaves oi the bellows will be mover further down ward by the increased relative pressure thereon, tins moving the valve li' to cover an additional portion ot the port 1G and produce a sott tension designated Q3. lf the tube el is thereafter opened the bellows 2d will become operative will be swung` een f wink (Fics. 2 and 3 is thus exposed to atv-- ll then be exposed to atformed in a frame 111 and eommunicatin3 1r with la cross passage 112. At its upper end the cross pass-age is open Vto the atmosphere and at its' lower end it is open to an exhaust chamber 11Bfeonnected by a pipe 1131L (Fig. 7 to the exhaust ot the instrument. A double valve 11 t is mounted to vl loosely lengthwise ot' the cross passage closing` the passage at one encL or the according to conditions. At its loireV end the valve 114tis provided with a head 11" 'positioned 'for engagement by a diaphrai i 115 covering a recess 11S, connected by a passage 117 to the tube 62 extending to the opening 63 Fig. 1) in the tracker bar. The usual bleed opening' 119 (Fig. connects the recess 116 with the chamber 11S thus providingl a normally low pr "ure on each side ot the diaphragm 115. ALne passage 110 above referred to is provided with an extension 110n containing a Vlap valve 12() and connnunicating with a cross passano isi (Fig. 4).

Substantially similar valve mechanism is provided for controlling the admission of air through the passages 122 and 1:23 to the tubes ll-Bvand 44 through which the bel* loivs and 24v are governed, these meenanisns being connected by tubes and to tracker openings 86 and 87 and being also connected to the cross passage 121.

Referring to Fig. 6, the valve 1141 is connected at its upper end to a lever having its outer end l'iositione@L iter engagement by a pawl 1531 adapt-ed to retain the valve in raised position.

From the toregoing description the oper tion olf' this portion ot the mechanism will be clearly evident. T'when tion in the note sheet admits a` 'l pressure through the Vtube (S2 e 117 to the recess 116 the die-.p will be raised, carrying with i i 114-, thus closing the connection let"een the passage 110 and the enlast chamber 11?. and at the same time opt ling the passage 11') to the atmosnhere. Since the passage 110 eomn'iunicetes directly with the tube 41, atn'iospheric pressure 1will accordof the device and engages projectingA por tions 131fL of the parvis 131. Such engagement by the bar 138 moves the paivls 131 rearwardly and permits the levers 130 and the valves 11eA connected thereto to return to normal or lor-.ered position.

The latch 137 (Fig. 7) is provided with a laterally extending arm 137n positioned to age an adjustable stop 1li() as the lever il is raised. rllhe stop 1st() should be so ad sted that the atm 137FL will engage the op as soon the lev rs 130 have been released. Continued upward movementof the lever 13G 'will swing the latch 137 to the ril'.j i' thus releasingl the offset bar 1538 and permitting the paivls 131 to return to positions in Which they again cooperate with the levers 130. releasevalve man' also be operated directly from the opening,- 77 1) in the tracker bar, bem?)` connected thereto by the tube 76 as in the prelerred form.

its the valves which control. the bellows 22:, QB and 24s are each connected to the cross passage 121, the release valve 135 will be operaf d vhenever any one ot the expression valves is moved 'trom normal position.

ln order that the operation of two or three ot the bellows Q2, 23 land 24 may be controlled by a single perforation in the note sheet l have provided additional cross passages, most clearly shown in Fig. 5. A pas. is normally closed by the valve 1&1 and when opened anmits atmospheric pressure direc ly to the passage 110, at the saine time that atmospheric pressure .is acdmitted to the passage 122. similar pasnormally covered by the valve 153 when opened admits atmospheric pressure to the tube llhe valve 153 also covers an additional passage connecting into the passage 150 and thus adapted to admit atmospheric pressure to the tube 110. The raising or opening et the valve 151 thus admits atmospheric pressure to the tivo bellows 22 and 23 While the raising` ot the valve L admits atmospheric pressure to all three or bellows 'and 94.

Having); thus described one torni of my invention it will be seen that 1 have providedr tension controlling mechanism by which ra series o? dilierent tensions may be secured and that l have also provided improved automatic devices controlled by pertorations in the note sheet l v means of which any de sired tension may be secured. Furthermore any desired tension may be at anv time seby the provision et a suitable single porton on in the note sheet regardless oli previously maintained in the inrent. will also be evident that changes and. ...dotations ce. be made in my invention by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth l. Il Q 4 Laconic in the claims, and I do not vvish to be otherivise limited to the details herein disclosed.

lllhat l do claim is l. ln an expression device for an automatic musical instrument having a tracker bar and note sheet, a plurality et player actions and an air tension regulator there'tor, in combination,v a plurality et pneumatic actuators controlling a single tension regulator and devices .tor governing the eX- haust ot air in said pneumatic actuators, said devices comprising separate valve controlling the oper tion el each actuator, separate mechanical citer/tive to positively lock cach el' said valves in position to render said actuator operative, and a mechanical release device separately controlled from the tracker bar and effective to reniove all ot said locking devices and thereby unlock all. of said Valves and permit all oit said valves to return to normal position, rendering all ol' actuators again inoperative.

2. in expression device for automatic musical instruments having a tracker bar and note sheet, comprising an air tension regulator, a pneumatic motor connected to adjust said regulator and having a plurality ot separate pneumatic actuators therein, a separate valve Jfor controlling the operation of each actuator, said valves being controlled from separate openings in the tracker bar, a latch to hold each valve when moved to render an actuator operative, and a single additional sheet-controlled valve effective to move all oic said latches to release the valves held thereby.

3. In an expression device 'for an automatic musical instrument having a tracker bar and note sheet, a plurality ot player actions and an air tension regulator therefor, in combination, a plurality oit regulatorcontrolling pneumatic actuators, and devices for governing the exhaustot air in said pneumatic actuators, said devices comprising connections to each actuator, valves for opening and closing said connections to the atmosphere, levers connected to said valves, latcliei` for said levers ellective to hold said valves open. and a single release device tor all or. said latches controlled tron a single separate tracker opening.

Ll. ln an expression device for an automatic musical instrument having a tracker bar and note sheet, a plurality ot player actions and an air tension regulator theretor, in combination, aplurality ot regulatorconti'olling pneumatic actuators, and devices tor governing the exhaust ot air in pneumatic actuators, said devices comprising connections to said act store, valves tor opening` and closing?,v said connections to the atmosphere. levers connected to said valves,A latches for said levers eiiective to hold said valves open, and a. single release device tor all ot said latches controlled :trom a single separate tracker opening, said release device being also rendered operative Whenever any one of said valves is opened.

V. ln an expression device 'tor an automatic musical instrument having a tracker hai' and note sheet, a plurality ot player actions and an air tension regulator theretor, in combination, a plurality ot regulatorcontrolling pneumatic actuators, and devices itor governing the exhaust o'r air in said pneumatic actuators, said devices comprising' connections to said actuators, valves tor opening and closing said connections to the atmosphere, levers connected to said valves, latches Yfor said levers elective to hold said valves open, a single release device all et said latches controlled from a ci igle separate tracker opening, and a trip Ytor releasing device effective to disenaage said release device at a selected point inv its operative movement.

G, ill-.n expression device for automatic musical instruments having a tracker bar and note sheet, comprising an air tension regulator, a pneumatic motor connected to adjust d regulator and having a plurality of sepc pneumatic actuators therein, and deef' for coi'itrolling the operation ot said ors, aid devices including` a sheet-conled tor governing the exhaust of cach oi" said actuators, and connecbe'tueen said valves whereby a certain tio `ve when moved will cause the air to be exhausted in more than one actuator.

7. r-ln expression device for automatic inusical instruments having a tracker bar and note sheet, comprising an air tension regulator, a pneumatic motor connected to adjust said regulator and having a plurality oit separate pneumatic actuators therein, and deii es tor controlling the operation oit said l La ical instruments having a tracker bar and note sheet, comprising an air tension regular, a pneumatic motor connected to adjust egulator and having a plurality of sep- 4rate pneumatic actuators therein, and devices fer controlling the operation et said actuators, said devices including a series of ,heet-controlled valves iter governing the evhaust ot air in each ot said actuators,

While the valves normally controlling the additional actuators remain in normal position.

lill) Leoacie 9. An expression device for automaticmusical instruments having,` a tracker bar and note sheet, comprising an air tension regulator, a pneumatic motor connected to adjust said regulator and having a plurality oitl separate pneumatic actuators therein, a sepa-- rate valve for controlling the operation of each actuator, said valves being` controlled from separate openings in the tracker bar, and connections between said valves Whereby certain tracker openings are rendered etiectivc to control a plurality of pneumatic actuators.

10. in an expression device 'for an automatic musical instrument having a trac rer bar and note sheet, a plurality et player actions and an air tension regulator therefor, in combination, a plurality ot regulatorcontrollingv pneumatic actuators, and devices for governing the exhaust ot air in said pneumatic actuators, said devices comprising` a valve connected to control each actuator, sheet-controlled means to move each valve to render its actuator operative, additional mechanical means to positively retain said valves when thus moved, an additional sheet-controlled release valve, and a mecnanical release device by which all ot said actuator-controlling valves are simultaneously release-d when said release valve is operated.

il. In an expression device tor an automatic musical instrument having` a tracker bar and note sheet, a plurality of player actions and an air tension regulator therefor, in combination, a plurality of regulator-controlling pneumatic actuators, and devices tor governing the exhaust of air in said pneumatic actuator', said devices comprising valves covering ports connected to control each actuator, sheet-controlled means to move each valve to render its actuator operative, certain of said valves covering' additional ports, and connections from said additional ports ivherehy actuators associated with other valves are rendered operative when said ports are uncovered.

l2. In an expression device tor an auto-- matic musical instrument having a tracker bar and note sheet, a plurality ot player ac- -ions and an air tension regulator therefor, in combination, a plurality of regulator-controlling,` pneumatic actuators, and a device for governing the exhaust of air in said pneumatic actuator, said devices comprising a valve connected to control each actuator, sheet-controlled means to move each valve to ender its actuator operative, a retaining deice tor each valve, a release valve controlall of said retaining devices, and a connection troni each actuator-controlling valve to said release valve, whereby movement of any controlling valve from normal position actuates said release valve.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto at'- lixed my signature.

THOMAS DANQUARD. 

